PSU Art & Social Practice Official

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Feb 3

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Family Swim is a co-authored art exhibition about swimming that I’ve been scheming up with my family. It opens this Thursday 2/5 from 5-7 pm at AB Gallery (2000 SW 5th Ave). Work by Bill Harlow, Therese Straseski, Hannah Harlow, Tessa Harlow, and me (Clara Harlow). Illustration by Will Vokal.

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Feb 3

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Seeking advice and aquarium rocks at The Wet Spot in preparation for my upcoming show, Family Swim. Family Swim is a co-authored exhibition featuring swimming artwork by me and my family members. The opening reception is this Thursday, February 5th from 5-7pm at AB Gallery in the PSU Art Building (2000 SW 5th Ave). Hope to see you honeys there!

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Jan 25

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Applications are now closed!
Thank you to everyone who applied.

We’re excited to begin the selection process as we look ahead to welcoming a new cohort for Fall 2027—artists whose practices are grounded in care, curiosity, and engagement with the world around them.

📸 Photo:
A student at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in conversation with guest artist Yoonhee Choi, looking through a zine written, designed, and published by PSU students during her time as KSMoCA’s fall visiting artist.
Photo courtesy of KSMoCA.

KSMoCA is a long-term, collaborative social practice project co-run with Dr. MLK Jr. Elementary School—where contemporary art, education, and community learning meet.

We look forward to what comes next. 🌱

#ArtAndSocialPractice #KSMoCA #SocialPractice #ArtEducation #CommunityEngagement MFAProgram

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Jan 25

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Applications are due TONIGHT — Saturday, 1/24.

Art as inquiry.
Art as lived experience.

📸 Photo / Project:
Public Agency of Travel Planning for the Overwhelmed
An interactive art installation by MFA student Simeen Anjum, a social practice artist and international student in the U.S.

Through performance and participation, the project explores the complexities of visa navigation, borders, and immigration systems—reframing global travel through the artist’s personal experience.

This interactive installation and performance took place at the Portland Building, Portland, Oregon.

🗓 MFA Application Deadline: TONIGHT — Saturday, 1/24

#ArtAndSocialPractice #SociallyEngagedArt #MFAApplication #ImmigrationStories #ParticipatoryArt PDXArtists

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Jan 24

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Applications for the Art and Social Practice MFA are due Saturday, 1/24.

Learning happens in relationship.
In the Art and Social Practice MFA, students work across generations, disciplines, and communities—where teaching, learning, and making intersect.

📸 Photo:
Peery Sloan, an MFA student, works with a fourth grader during a KSMoCA workshop with visiting artist Yoonhee Choi.
Photo courtesy of KSMoCA.

🗓 MFA Application Deadline: Saturday, 1/24

#ArtAndSocialPractice #SociallyEngagedArt #MFAApplication #ArtEducation #KSMoCA PDXArtists

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Jan 22

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Applications for the Art and Social Practice MFA are due Saturday, 1/24.

This program centers collaboration, community engagement, and socially rooted artistic practice—both inside and beyond institutional spaces.

📸 Photo:
Gwendolyn Hoeffgen and Domenic Toliver, If We Could Talk
A community storytelling and participatory photography project, presented at The BLACK Gallery, Portland, Oregon.

🖤 If We Could Talk is on view Thursday–Sunday, 12–5 pm, by appointment only.
Visits can be scheduled by emailing info@theblackgallerypdx.com.
✨ Student groups are especially encouraged.

🗓 MFA Application Deadline: Saturday, 1/24

#ArtAndSocialPractice #SociallyEngagedArt #MFAApplication #CommunityArt #PDXArtists

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Jan 22

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Applications for the Art and Social Practice MFA are due Saturday, 1/24.

Recognized by Artsy as one of the Top 15 Art Programs in the country, this flexible, three-year residency program brings together individual studio practice, collective work, and real-world community partnerships.

If you’re looking for an immersive, collaborative, and socially engaged MFA experience—this might be your place.

🗓 Deadline: 1/24

📸 Photo: MFA candidates Lou Blumberg and Simeen Anjum present “Songs against Dark Times Like These: PDX Edition — Song Circle” as part of Assembly 2025: Public Domain

#ArtAndSocialPractice #SociallyEngagedArt #MFAApplication #PDXArtists

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Jan 21

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Come collaborate with us! APPLICATIONS DUE SATURDAY, 1/24. We would love to meet you.

(Video: SP MFA cohort onsite @ksmoca learning to tap dance in the school gym. Led by 2nd year candidate Gwen Hoeffgen.)

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Jan 21

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Because of our mutual care and respect for one another, our class took place on Zoom today. It never felt less connected or less embodied. Instead, it was another strong session of sharing works in progress and the vulnerability of our journey as artists. We trust each other. We care. I love our cohort. 💓

#psu #psuarts #psuartpractices #psuartcommunity #psucore

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Dec 14

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Thank you to all who came to the opening reception of If We Could Talk! Facilitated by @portlandstate students @domenict_ @gwenhoeffgen, funded by @oregonmetro and in collaboration with @selfenhancementinc , exhibiting at @theblackgallerypdx Dec 12th- Feb 16th, to view by appointment Thurs-Sun 12-5pm.
To all the artists- thank you for sharing your stories, for your vulnerability, and for your continuous inspiration in the community.

Thank you to all those who continue to support, empower eachother, and truly listen. #IfWeCouldTalk

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Dec 12

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Get some coffee and get ready to read our new issue of soFA Journal. Link in bio ❤️‍🔥.

One of the most prominent themes this term is friendship. Many contributors chose to speak with friends, collaborators, or peers—people who have been present in their lives not only as fellow artists but as confidants and supporters. These conversations highlight what it means to show up for one another, to share resources and experiences, and to grow alongside someone else. The issue reveals how friendships, both longstanding and newly formed, can shape creative practices just as profoundly as any formal study.

Click the link in the bio to read!

Rose Lewis with Dr. Zoe Bursztajn-Illingworth
Alex Deets Interview with “H” of Project Belong

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Dec 12

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Our new Issue of soFA Journal is online ❤️‍🔥. Read the full set of interviews on our link in bio.

Many conversations this term touched on the importance of praxis, the effort to align what we practice with what we believe, and to walk the walk and not only talk the talk. Themes of inner awareness, vulnerability, and the willingness to be misunderstood recur as well, along with honest reflections on anger as a meaningful way of navigating the world. These interviews invite us into alternative ways of sensing, thinking, and interpreting what surrounds us. Our new Issue of soFA Journal is online ❤️‍🔥. Read the full set of interviews on our link in bio.

Many conversations this term touched on the importance of praxis, the effort to align what we practice with what we believe, and to walk the walk and not only talk the talk. Themes of inner awareness, vulnerability, and the willingness to be misunderstood recur as well, along with honest reflections on anger as a meaningful way of navigating the world. These interviews invite us into alternative ways of sensing, thinking, and interpreting what surrounds us.

Click the link in the bio to read!

Domenic Toliver in Conversation with Frank Cobb, Meta 4(Sadie), Duane(Casper) and Gwen Hoeffgen
Haruka Ostley in conversation with Tonye Stuurman
Simeen Anjum with Tamia Alston-Ward
Lou Blumberg with Devin Harkness
Text by Sarah Ngọc Lưu with Sean Xuân Hiếu Nguyễn
Sarah Blesener in conversation with Leigh Ledare

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Dec 12

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Our new Issue of soFA Journal is online ❤️‍🔥. Read the full set of interviews on our link in bio.

Many conversations this term touched on the importance of praxis, the effort to align what we practice with what we believe, and to walk the walk and not only talk the talk. Themes of inner awareness, vulnerability, and the willingness to be misunderstood recur as well, along with honest reflections on anger as a meaningful way of navigating the world. These interviews invite us into alternative ways of sensing, thinking, and interpreting what surrounds us.

Click the link in the bio to read!

Peery Sloan in conversation with Shimabuku
Adela Cardona Puerta with Wendy Shih
Clara Harlow with Suzy Messerole, Seniz Yargici and Sharon Mandel
Gwen Hoeffgen with Sergio Palleroni
Nina Vichayapai with Aleesa Pitchamarn Alexander

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Dec 6

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Our new building is coming together! ✨

Today, a few members of our school leadership (plus me, the program assistant!) visited the construction site with the interior designer. The space already looks beautiful—high ceilings and locally sourced wood throughout.

We shared thoughts and ideas about how the space could be activated, and we’ll be getting design proposals based on today’s discussion.

Stay tuned for updates!

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Dec 1

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Good afternoon, citizens of earth! Seasons change, historical eras rise and fall, and the student in charge of the PSU Social Practice MFA Instagram account shifts. This week it is I, Rose Lewis, guiding you through this virtual space. 🔵 This is a project I am conducting for Dr. Hill’s class, a Wealth Redistribution Station installed on the second floor of FMH. If you need a few dollars or if you have a few dollars to share, stop by! 🟦 If you have any thoughts on how money shapes our relationships with one another, share them! 🔷 I look forward to hearing from you!

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Nov 27

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Just in time for a family and food break! Join me, first year student @peery.sloan , tomorrow to practice paying attention and taking space in public areas.

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Nov 26

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What is the reason for your travel outside of your country? How much luggage are you carrying? Does your current passport photo convey your inner longing to return to your homeland? We will assist you in answering all these questions for your upcoming visa interviews. Here are some clips from our interview practice. (Public Agency of Travel Planning for the Overwhelmed by Simeen Anjum)

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Nov 26

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We love our wet weather here in Portland and fully lean into our snow monkey tendencies. Class at a pool? Yes please

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Nov 25

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Hi!
First year student, Peery Sloan @peery.sloan , here hoping to enhance the holiday week to be even more memorable.
This car wash today was wonderful. I used to be terrified of them as a kid and jump into my sister’s lap but now I’m mesmerized. Could we make a manual car wash? Not the cheerleader fundraiser-type but human costumes of the wipers, squishers, spinning tassled washers - what’s being washed away by these dancing, costumed humans? If you’re interested, let’s talk. Yes, I digressed…

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Nov 22

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Come meet us! 🌈
We’re hosting two Virtual Q+A Sessions for the MFA in Art and Social Practice at Portland State University.

The December 2 session will focus on the school and overall graduate experience, while the December 10 session will look more specifically at the MFA Art and Social Practice program.

In both sessions, you’ll have a chance to ask questions directly to Lisa Jarrett and Midori Yamanaka — ask us anything!

📅 Tuesday, Dec. 2 — 4:15pm–5:15pm
Hosted by the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design

📅 Wednesday, Dec. 10 — 4:15pm–5:15pm
Hosted by the Graduate School with a presentation by Lisa & Midori

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Nov 21

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Congratulations to our program director, Lisa Jarrett! 🎉

Our cohort visited the newly reopened Portland Art Museum, where Lisa’s work is featured in the Thelma Johnson Streat Black Art & Experience Gallery.

PAM’s new Thelma Johnson Streat Gallery marks a significant milestone in naming and institutional recognition.

It was inspiring to hear Lisa talk about her work and to see this new direction at the museum. Her installation will be on view for the next year.

We’re so proud of you, Lisa! ✨

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Nov 20

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Applying for a visa is tricky business but you’re in the best hands with our travel agent! We are helping our clients fill out their ‘Permission to Leave’ visa application form - an imaginary process requiring travelers to request permission from the government to be allowed to travel outside their country for any reason.

Public Agency of Travel Planning for the Overwhelmed by Artist Simeen Anjum
(Currently on view at AB Gallery, 2000 SW 5th Ave until Nov 22)

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Nov 18

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Also this is me (Deets) presenting today in class on the theme of ‘Institutional Critique,’ we have to include an activity in our presentation-this is my activity. Feel free to to start your own fictional museum, invite artists to participate, let them democratically decide what goes in the museum then ruthlessly use your power as a curator to uphold the desires of the art market! Documentation by @sarahblesener

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Nov 18

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Hello from Deets! Last week was my week to share on instagram and I didn’t. Whoops! Rookie mistake. I’m a first year in the program (rookie!) and I’m sharing some greatest hits from my first term. 1.Haruka is in my cohort, this is her falling victim to the clothing pin game we played on our retreat. 2. The pumpkins that would later be used for a squash squat contest at Dishman where @all_corndogs_go_to_heaven is the resident artist (@loadingwaitt won!) 3. Adela and small Adela presenting their work in class 4. Collaborative pizza project 5. Artwork by a King School student during @ksmoca mentorship time 6. King Student giving me a tour of the permanent @ksmoca collection 7. @peery.sloan helping with workshop facilitated by @ychoi_artist who is the KSMoCA artist in residence this term. Time has flown by!

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Nov 13

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Now Open in AB Gallery!
Visit Simeen Anjum’s Public Agency pf Travel Planning for the Overwhelmed. Open through Nov 22.

Upcoming Performance by @peery.sloan Tue Nov 19 5:15pm followed by a conversation.

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Nov 9

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We’re part of the Zine Symposium at PSU’s Smith Memorial Student Union! ✨
It started yesterday and goes until 5pm today — tons of zines, artists, and good vibes!
Come say hi! 👋

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Nov 6

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This term’s guest artist at KSMoCA is Yoonhee Choi, and we’ve just entered the second phase of her workshop!

She shared how we can tell stories through colors—just like musicians express with notes and instruments, and writers with letters and sentences.

✨ What kind of story would you like to tell?
Which colors connect to your emotion or experience?

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Nov 6

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This term, a lot of us have been thinking about the roll of playfulness not just in our art but as a why to make a difference. A sort “jestering” new collective realities into being. As a tool to bring down barriers for people to talk to each other, that otherwise wouldn’t.

What is the role of play in your life and work?

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Nov 5

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Opening next week! Public Agency of Travel Planning is popping up in Portland! The show includes also a range of Office hours and Workshops. Come visit!

When: Nov 10-21st
Where: AB Gallery, Portland State University (2000 SW 5th Ave)
Gallery Hours: 9-5 M-F
Door Access: Buzz the doorbell or use a PSU ID for access.

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Oct 28

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What is an archive? We hit the library today to check out the Art + Social Practice Archive and find out what we could do to help preserve it. Thanks Marti, for all the info and letting us check out the work from past students in the program.✌️

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Oct 28

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First visit to our A+SP archive with the new cohort :]

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Oct 24

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This week our cohort assisted @ksmoca ‘s artist in residence, Yoonhee Choi, and students of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Elementary School, in a colorful paper-making workshop! This is the first part of many workshops that will take place throughout the term. We’re excited to see the kids and Yoonhee’s collaborative work at the end of the term!